Filmmaking's worth the headache: Remo D'Souza

The 39-year-old who claims to enjoy every bit of filmmaking says he hasn’t given up on choreography as yet. CS caught up with him for a candid chat.

Pic/Sameer Markande

Taking sides I would definitely say that I’m far more comfortable being a choreographer than a filmmaker for obvious reasons. Choreography is like a second skin to me. I can’t escape it. But at the same time, I’m fond of stories and like to convey them through dance and films. Directing a film has its share of headaches but every minute of it is worth it as it’s a collaborative process.

Gravity works The truth is I’m just starting out. I may be popular because of TV and my straightforward nature but then, I can’t change my past. I’ve had my share of struggles. I know what failure is and I’m proud of overcoming it. All my hurdles make me who I am today. I don’t see myself ever letting success get into my head. If I’m not grounded, I don’t think I’d be myself. And I don’t think that will ever happen.

Time management Right now, I’m bad at managing time and you just have to ask my wife (Lizelle) and kids (Dhruv and Gabriel). They are all upset with me (laughs). But then, at the end, each one of us realise how important it is to work hard, so it’s fine. I make the most of whatever free time I get to spend with them. My family, like me, is fond of movies so we spend a lot of time watching movies on our home theatre.

No, not yet The reason why I don’t have a dance institute yet is because I’m quite sure that I won’t be able to give it as much attention as I would like to. And there is no point in setting up something you can’t direct. Besides, what I’m aiming for is a dance school with branches across the country. I’m sure I’ll be pursuing this vision in the near future when my plate is not full (smiles).

Don’t blame Bollywood I find it amusing when purists blame Hindi film industry for the lack of interest in classical dance forms. First of all, I truly believe that there is no decline in kids opting for classical versions. Thanks to the current reach of Bollywood and the variety it projects, a young aspirant has a better choice to make. Also, how can we neglect what forms the very core of dance? It’s impossible.